Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALFUXE’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALFUXE’, particularly characterized by having large, yellow, spotted flowers, 1 to 2 peduncles that are long and sturdy, leaves that are obovate, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALFUXE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrid of theOrchidaceae family, commonly referred to as moth orchid, and hereinafterreferred to by the variety name ‘PHALFUXE’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The objectiveof this breeding program was to create a new Phalaenopsis plant withlarge, yellow, spotted flowers, suitable for potted plant production.

The new Phalaenopsis plant ‘PHALFUXE’ is a result of cross-pollinationmade by the inventor in March 2008 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands of theproprietary female, or seed parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘11301-05’(unpatented) with the proprietary male, or pollen parent, Phalaenopsishybrid ‘01-1849’ (unpatented).

The new Phalaenopsis was selected by the inventor as a single plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands in January 2011. Asexualreproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by meristem tissue culturesince 2013 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, has demonstrated that the newvariety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, asherein described, firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europeon Sep. 13, 2016. ‘PHALFUXE’ has not been made publicly available orsold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing dateof this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and can be used todistinguish ‘PHALFUXE’ as a new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsisplant.

-   -   1) Large, yellow, spotted flowers;    -   2) 1 to 2 peduncles;    -   3) Peduncle is long and sturdy; and    -   4) Shape of the leaf is obovate.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms andfoliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonablyobtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs weretaken in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, from 50-week oldplants in January 2017. Colors in the photographs may differ from thecolor values cited in the detailed botanical description, whichaccurately describe the actual colors of the new variety.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms and foliage of‘PHALFUXE’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALFUXE’.

FTG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALFUXE’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘PHALFUXE’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have notbeen observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotypemay vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature,light intensity and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype. The chart used in the identification of colors describedherein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society,London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms ofordinary significance are used. The color values were determined under4000-6000 lux natural light in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, TheNetherlands. Observations and measurements were made in January 2017 on50-week old plants which were planted from a nursery tray in 12centimeter (diameter) pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to29° C. for 30 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 8 weeks between18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.        -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.        -   Common name.—Moth orchid.        -   Variety name.—‘PHALFUXE’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘11301-05’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-1849’ (unpatented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture.-   Roots:    -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green colored roots (RHS 190A/B)            with branching lateral roots having light green colored root            tips (RHS 146D).-   Plant:    -   -   Commercial crop time to flowering.—Approximately 48 to 50            weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 12 cm pot.        -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Standard, green leaves, raceme to            panicle.        -   Height (from soil level to top of            inflorescence).—Approximately 44.0 cm to 54.0 cm.        -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—About 23.0 cm to 28.0 cm.        -   Vigor.—Strong.-   Leaves:    -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 6 to 8 leaves are            produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 13.0 cm            to 16.0 cm. Width: 7.5 cm to 8.5 cm. Shape: Obovate. Base            shape: Slightly elongated. Apex: Unequal rounded. Leaf blade            angle with the petiole (measured from the horizontal            position): Between 25 degrees and 40 degrees. Leaf margin:            Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS            147B. Texture: Smooth. Thickness: 2.5 mm to 2.8 mm.            Venation: Pattern: Parallel. Color of the midvein: Upper            surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS 147B.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 2.        -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—8 to 12.        -   Length.—44.0 cm to 54.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—4.8 mm to 5.0 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly pendant.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Green (RHS 146A) with a touch of brown (RHS 200B).        -   Internode length.—35.0 mm to 40.0 mm.        -   Callosities.—None.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, raceme to panicle            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 92.0 mm to            97.0 mm.        -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11            months after planting in a 12 cm (diameter) pot.        -   Flower.—Height: 87.0 mm to 92.0 mm. Diameter: 95.0 mm to            100.0 mm. Depth of lip: 18.0 mm to 20.0 mm.        -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 16 to 21 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Flower bud.—Average size: Medium. Length: 19.0 mm to            21.0 mm. Width: 16.0 mm to 18.0 mm. Shape: Egg shaped.            Color: Green (RHS 144B) with diluting spots (RHS N79B).        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:            Emarginated asymmetric. Margin: Slightly undulated. Length            (from base to tip): 41.0 mm to 43.0 mm. Width: 50.0 mm to            52.0 mm. Color (when fully opened): Upper surface: Basic            color: Yellow (RHS 1D). Over color: Dark red-purple spots            (RHS N79C). Lower surface: Basic color: Yellow (RHS 1D).            Over color: Diluting dark red-purple spots (RHS N79B).        -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Broad elliptic. Apex: Rounded            symmetric. Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 46.0            mm to 48.0 mm. Width: 37.0 mm to 39.0 mm. Color (when fully            opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Yellow (RHS 1D). Over            color: Dark red-purple spots (RHS N79C). Lower surface:            Basic color: Yellow (RHS 1D). Over color: Diluting dark            red-purple spots (RHS N79B); green-yellow in the middle (RHS            145C).        -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse asymmetric.            Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 45.0 mm to            47.0 mm. Width: 31.0 mm to 33.0 mm. Color (when fully            opened): Upper surface: Basic color: Yellow (RHS 1D). Over            color: Dark red-purple spots (RHS N79C). Lower surface:            Basic color: Green-yellow (RHS 145C). Over color: Diluting            dark red-purple spots (RHS N79B).        -   Labellum (lip).—Whiskers: Present. Length of whiskers: 4.0            mm to 6.0 mm. Color of whiskers: Light yellow (RHS 160B).            Pubescence on the lip: Absent.        -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Weakly spatulate. Margin: Entire.            Length: 15.0 mm to 17.0 mm. Width: 9.0 mm to 11.0 mm. Color:            Dark red at the base (RHS 187A); white on one side (RHS            NN155C) and yellow on the other side (RHS 6A).        -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Trullate. Margin: Entire. Length: 19.0            mm to 21.0 mm. Width: 18.0 mm to 20.0 mm. Color: Yellow edge            (RHS 2B) toward the callus; dark red spots (RHS 187A/B) and            light yellow (RHS 160B) toward the whiskers.        -   Callus.—Average size: Medium. Height: 0.5 cm to 0.7 cm.            Length: 0.4 cm to 0.6 cm. Width: 0.3 cm to 0.5 cm. Color:            Dark red (RHS 187A).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Column.—Length: 9.0 mm to 11.0 mm. Diameter: 5.4 mm to            5.6 mm. Color: Dark red at the base (RHS N79C); white toward            the tip (RHS NN155C).        -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Diameter: 1.0 mm to 1.2 mm. Color:            Yellow-orange (RHS 24B).        -   Ovary.—Length: 10.0 mm to 12.0 mm. Diameter: 2.4 mm to 2.6            mm.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 41.0 mm to 43.0 mm. Diameter: 3.1 mm to            3.3 mm. Color: Green (RHS 144C) to light pink/white (RHS            N155C).-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed to pathogens and pests common to    Phalaenopsis.-   Fruit and seeds: Fruit and seed development has not been observed on    plants of the new Phalaenopsis.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘PHALFUXE’ differs from female parent plant ‘11301-05’ (unpatented) inthat ‘PHALFUXE’ has a medium sized callus, yellow (RHS 1D) flowers withtrullate apical lobes, and weakly spatulate lateral lobes, whereas‘11301-05’ has a small callus, yellow (RHS 6B) flowers with rhombicapical lobes, and oblong lateral lobes. Additionally, ‘PHALFUXE’ haslarger flowers and longer whiskers than ‘11301-05’.

‘PHALFUXE’ differs from male parent plant ‘01-1849’ (unpatented) in that‘PHALFUXE’ has a medium sized callus, yellow flowers with spots,trullate apical lobes and weakly spatulate lateral lobes, whereas‘01-1849’ has a large callus, white flowers, triangular apical lobes andspatulate lateral lobes. Additionally, ‘PHALFUXE’ has smaller flowersand much shorter whiskers than ‘01-1849’.

‘PHALFUXE’ is most similar to the commercial Phalaenopsis plants named‘PHALDEMFOP’ (unpatented) and ‘PHALDRYLO’ (unpatented). ‘PHALFUXE’differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALDEMFOP’ in that ‘PHALFUXE’ hasan apical lobe with dark red spots, yellow edge toward the callus andlight yellow toward the whiskers, and leaves without anthocyanincoloration and a rounded apex, whereas ‘PHALDEMFOP’ has an apical lobethat is purple and red-brown toward the whiskers and spotted at thebase, and leaves with anthocyanin coloration and an obtuse apex.Additionally, ‘PHALFUXE’ has larger flowers than ‘PHALDEMFOP’.

‘PHALFUXE’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALDRYLO’ in that‘PHALFUXE’ has an apical lobe with dark red spots (RHS 187A/B), yellow(RHS 2B) edge toward the callus and light yellow (RHS 160B) toward thewhiskers, whereas ‘PHALDRYLO’ has a yellow (RHS 7A) apical lobe withdark red spots (RHS 187C) and white (RHS NN155C) toward the whiskers.Additionally, ‘PHALFUXE’ has leaves without anthocyanin coloration and arounded apex, whereas ‘PHALDRYLO’ has leaves with anthocyanin colorationand an obtuse apex.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named‘PHALFUXE’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.